Portable medication dispensing containers

ABSTRACT

A medication delivery system is disclosed that includes a portable container and a controller. The portable container includes a body and a lid that forms a securable storage compartment, and a latch that is coupled to the body and configured to releasably secure the lid. The portable container also includes a processor and a power source coupled to the latch, the processor causing the latch to release when an access signal based on a unique identifier is received.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/354,172, filed Jan. 19, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,749,379, which isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present disclosure is related to the use of secure portablecontainers to transport and dispense medications, particularly from acentral automated dispensing machine (ADM) to the bedside of a patient.

2. Description of the Related Art

Patients in hospitals receive multiple medications on a regular scheduleor on an as-needed basis, also known as “PRN” (meaning “when necessary”from the Latin “pro re nata”). Medications are frequently stored in anADM that may be located at a nurse's station or other central location.Some ADMs, such as the Pyxis MedStation™, use secure transportablecontainers, such as the CUBIE® pockets used with the MedStation, totransfer medications between the filling location, for example apharmacy, and the ADMs. Such a system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.6,116,461 to Broadfield et al., for example. These containers are secureduring transport and may be opened only after being placed in the ADMand after entry of the proper identification information by the nurse.Some hospitals utilize pharmacy systems that allow the pharmacists toenter approved prescriptions into the system. In these pharmacy systems,the ADMs are configured to require identification of the patient forwhich a medication is being requested, check whether that medication hasbeen prescribed for that patient, and allow the nurse access to themedication only if the medication has been prescribed.

In some hospitals, the medication administration protocol requiresnurses to travel to the ADM to dispense the medications for eachindividual patient at the time of administration. If a nurse isresponsible for multiple patients, this can create numerous trips backand forth between the patients' rooms and the ADM. Nurses are subject tointerruptions during these trips, further adding to the time that ittakes to administer a medication to a patient.

SUMMARY

It is desirable to provide a system and method of securely storingmedications while allowing nurses to carry the medications with them anddispense the medications at the bedside or other location away from theADM, thereby avoiding the need for the nurses to return to the centralADM each time a medication is to be administered. It is furtherdesirable to track the location of the securely stored medications andallow access to the securely stored medications only when the securelystored medications are in certain designated areas, and to provide analarm if the securely stored medications are removed from an approvedarea. The portable containers and the dispensing systems disclosedherein provide at least this capability.

In certain embodiments, a portable container is disclosed that includesa body and a lid that cooperatively form a securable storage compartmentand a latch that is coupled to the body and configured to releasablysecure the lid. The portable container also includes a location-sensingelement configured to determine a location of the portable container andprovide the location, and a processor coupled to the latch and thelocation sensing element. The processor is configured to receive thelocation from the location-sensing element and allow the latch torelease the lid upon a determination that the portable container islocated in an area where access to the contents of the portablecontainer is permitted.

In certain embodiments, a medication delivery system is disclosed thatincludes a plurality of portable containers each having a body with alid forming a secure storage compartment and a latch that is coupled tothe body and configured to releasably secure the lid. The system alsoincludes a location-sensing element configured to determine a locationof the portable container and provide the location, a memory comprisinga unique identifier, and a first processor coupled to the latch, thelocation sensing element, and the memory. The first processor isconfigured to receive the location from the location sensing element,retrieve the identifier from the memory, provide an information signalcomprising the location and identifier, receive an access signal, andcause the latch to release the lid upon receipt of the access signal.The system also includes a controller selectively coupled to the firstprocessor of at least one of the portable containers. The controllerincludes a memory configured to store facility information related to atleast one area of a facility and which of the plurality of portablecontainers are allowed to be opened within the at least one area, and asecond processor configured to receive the information signal from thefirst processor, retrieve the facility information from the memory,compare the location of the at least one portable container to thefacility information, and provide the access signal to the firstprocessor if the at least one portable container is located in an areawherein the at least one portable container is allowed to be opened.

In certain embodiments, a portable container is disclosed that includesa body with a lid forming a securable storage compartment and a latchthat is coupled to the body and configured to releasably secure the lid.The portable container also includes a processor coupled to the latchand a power source coupled to the latch and the processor. The processoris configured to receive an access signal from an external controllerand cause the latch to release the lid upon receipt of the accesssignal.

In certain embodiments, a medication delivery system is disclosed thatcomprises a plurality of portable containers each having a body with alid forming a securable storage compartment and a latch that is coupledto the body and configured to releasably secure the lid. The system alsoincludes a first processor coupled to the latch, a power source coupledto the latch and the first processor, and a first memory coupled to thefirst processor. The first memory comprises a unique identifier. Thefirst processor is configured to retrieve the unique identifier from thefirst memory, provide a data signal comprising the unique identifier,receive an access signal, and cause the latch to release the lid uponreceipt of the access signal. The system also includes a controller thathas a second processor communicatively coupled to the scanner and to thefirst processor of at least one of the portable containers. The secondprocessor is configured to receive the data signal from the firstprocessor of the at least one portable container, provide an informationsignal comprising a patient identifier and the portable containeridentifier to the server, and provide the access signal to the firstprocessor upon a determination that the portable container is allowed tobe opened. The system also includes a server configured to storeinformation related to prescriptions for at least one patient, storeinformation related to a content of at least one of the plurality ofportable containers, and receive the information signal from the secondprocessor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide furtherunderstanding and are incorporated in and constitute a part of thisspecification, illustrate disclosed embodiments and together with thedescription serve to explain the principles of the disclosedembodiments. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an exemplary portable container accordingto certain aspects of this disclosure.

FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary ADM configured to utilize secure portablecontainers according to certain aspects of this disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the portable container ofFIG. 1 according to certain aspects of this disclosure.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary dispensing station according to certain aspectsof this disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the portablecontainer of FIG. 1 according to certain aspects of this disclosure.

FIG. 6 is another embodiment of a medication dispensing system accordingto certain aspects of this disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a simplified schematic of a hospital with defined zonesaccording to certain aspects of this disclosure.

FIG. 8 is an exemplary block diagram of a handheld controller accordingto certain aspects of this disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the portablecontainer of FIG. 1 according to certain aspects of this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description discloses embodiments of a system and methodfor providing secure portable storage of medications. Such a systemallows authorized users to access the contents of the portablecontainer. The disclosure describes the system and methods in thecontext of a medication dispensing system wherein medications are storedin the portable containers that are accessed by nurses foradministration to patients in a healthcare setting.

The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description ofvarious configurations of the subject technology and is not intended torepresent the only configurations in which the subject technology may bepracticed. The appended drawings are incorporated herein and constitutea part of the detailed description. The detailed description includesspecific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understandingof the subject technology. However, it will be apparent to those skilledin the art that the subject technology may be practiced without thesespecific details. In some instances, well-known structures andcomponents are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuringthe concepts of the subject technology. Like components are labeled withidentical element numbers for ease of understanding.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an exemplary portable container 10according to certain aspects of this disclosure. The portable container10 comprises a body 12 and, in this embodiment, a lid 14 that ishingedly attached to the body 12. The body 12 and lid 14 together form asecure compartment 16. The portable container 10 includes electronics 18that, in certain embodiments, provide communication and controlcapabilities. A cover has been removed from body 12 in FIG. 12 to revealthe enclosed electronics 18. In certain embodiments, the lid 14 isreleasably securely by a powered latch (not visible in FIG. 1) that isactivated by an internal processor (not visible in FIG. 1) that are bothpart of the electronics 18. The internal elements of the portablecontainer 10 are discussed in greater detail with respect to FIG. 3. Incertain embodiments, the lid 14 is clear to allow inspection of thecontents of the portable container 10 without releasing the lid 14.

FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary ADM 20 configured to utilize secure portablecontainers 10 according to certain aspects of this disclosure. Incertain embodiments, the portable containers 10 are stored in drawers22. In certain embodiments, the drawers 22 comprise a plurality of powerconnectors (not visible in FIG. 2) configured to provide power andsignals to portable containers 10. In certain embodiments, a nurse orother user can provide information through a touch screen 24, keyboard26, or other input device such that the ADM 20 allows the nurse toremove one or more of the portable containers 10 from the drawer 22.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a portable container 10of FIG. 1 according to certain aspects of this disclosure. In additionto the body 12 and lid 14 described with respect to FIG. 1, the portablecontainer 10 comprises a latch 33 that is coupled to the body 12 andconfigured to releasably secure the lid 14 such that the contents of thesecure compartment 16 are not accessible when the lid 14 is secured andare accessible when the lid 14 is released by the latch 33. The latch 33is coupled to a processor 35 that is configured to selectably cause thelatch 33 to release the lid 14. In certain embodiments, the portablecontainer 10 comprises a connector 32 that is coupled to the body 10 andthe latch 33, the function of the connector 32 being described ingreater detail with respect to FIG. 4. In certain embodiments, theportable container 10 comprises a memory 38 coupled to the processor 35.In certain embodiments, the memory comprises a unique identifierassociated with the portable container 10.

In certain embodiments, the portable container 10 comprises a real timelocating system (RTLS) element 36 that is configured to determine thelocation of the portable container 10 within a facility. In certainembodiments, the facility has a wireless system that communicates withthe RTLS element 36 and provides reference information that allows theRTLS element 36 to determine its location. In certain embodiments, theRTLS element 36 provides an identifier to the facility's wireless systemand the system determines the location of the RTLS element 36. Incertain embodiments, the facility's wireless system provides thislocation information to the RTLS element 36.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary dispensing station 40 according to certainaspects of this disclosure. The dispensing station 40 comprises at leastone docking station 42 configured to accept portable containers 10 andin the embodiment of FIG. 4, a plurality of docking stations 42. Incertain embodiments, the docking station 42 comprises a dockingconnector 44 configured to mate with the connector 32 of the portablecontainer 10. In certain embodiments, the docking connector 44 providespower to the latch 33 such that the lid can only be released when theportable container 10 is docked to the dispensing station 40. In certainembodiments, the dispensing station 40 comprises a user interface 46that provides the same access control capability as provided by the ADMof FIG. 2, thereby allowing the nurse to access the secure compartments16 of portable containers 10 that are docked to the dispensing station40.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the portablecontainer 10 of FIG. 1 according to certain aspects of this disclosure.In certain embodiments, the lid 14, body 12, and latch 33 are configuredin a manner similar to that of FIG. 3, with the latch 33 configured toreleasably secure the lid 14 to the body 12 so as to form a securestorage compartment 16. The latch 33 is controlled by processor 35. Incertain embodiments, a power source 37, for example a battery, iscoupled to both the processor 35 and the latch 33 such that the portablecontainer 10 is a self-contained functional unit that does not need tobe docked to a power source, such as in FIG. 4, to release the lid 14.In certain embodiments, the portable container 10 comprises acommunication device 39 configured to communicate with a hospitalsystem, for example an Ethernet network. In certain embodiments, thecommunication device 39 is a radio frequency (RF) unit. In certainembodiments, the communication device 39 utilizes optical radiation tocommunicate with the hospital system. In certain embodiments, thecommunication device 39 utilizes infrared light to communicate with thehospital system. In certain embodiments, the portable container 10comprises a memory 38 that comprises a unique identifier associated withthis specific portable container 10.

FIG. 6 is another embodiment of a medication dispensing system 60according to certain aspects of this disclosure. In certain embodiments,the medication dispensing system 60 comprises a portable container 10communicatively coupled to a controller 76 through, in this embodiment,wireless signals 39A and 77. In certain embodiments, the wirelesssignals 39A and 77 are RF signals. In certain embodiments, the wirelesssignals 39A and 77 are optical signals. In certain embodiments, thecontroller 76 and portable container 10 respectively comprise connectors(not visible in FIG. 6) configured to mate and establish a directcommunication link between the controller's processor (not shown in FIG.6) and the portable container's processor 35 (not shown in FIG. 6). Thecontroller 76 is also communicatively coupled to a wireless access point74 that is further coupled to a communication network 72, such as awired Ethernet network. The system 60 also comprises one or more servers70, 71 that are communicatively coupled to the network 72 and,therefore, communicatively coupled to the controller 76. In certainembodiments, server 70 is a pharmacy server comprising prescriptions forpatients. In certain embodiments, server 71 is a RTLS server comprisinginformation about the layout of the hospital. In certain embodiments,the RTLS server 71 comprises a controller (not visible in FIG. 6) thatinteracts with at least the processor 35 and RTLS element 36 of theportable container 10 embodied in FIG. 3 to determine the location ofthe portable container 10 and provide an access signal to the processor35 if the portable container is located in an area where access to thecontents of the portable container 10 is permitted.

FIG. 7 is a simplified schematic 80 of a hospital with defined zones 84according to certain aspects of this disclosure. In this example, a careunit has five patient rooms 90A-90E and an ADM 20. There are three doors96A, 96B, and 96C that lead out of the care unit, with door 96C leadinginto stairwell 98. A zone 82 has been defined to include care unit rooms90A-90E and hallway 91. Zones 84A, 84B, i.e. other parts of thehospital, have been defined outside of doors 96A, 96B, respectively, andzone 84C has been defined outside of door 96C which leads to the outsideof the hospital. The server 70 of FIG. 6 may include a database thatdefines which zones are approved for each of the portable containers 10that are being used by the hospital. The server 70 may be configured toprovide an alert if the portable container 10 is determined to be in azone that is not approved for that portable container 10. For example, aportable container 10 may be allowed in zone 82 as well as zones 84A,84B but not allowed in zone 84C. In this manner, removal of the portablecontainer 10 from the hospital will create an alert when the portablecontainer 10 is detected in zone 84C.

FIG. 8 is an exemplary block diagram of a handheld controller 76according to certain aspects of this disclosure. The controller 76comprises a processor 90 coupled to a memory 92 configured to store atleast programs and data. The processor 90 is also coupled to acommunication element 96, a display 98 and a keypad 100. In certainembodiments, the communication element 96 comprises a wireless networkcommunication capability, such as an 802.11 transceiver. In certainembodiments, the communication element 96 comprises a local wirelesscommunication capability, such as a Bluetooth® or infrared transceiver.In certain embodiments, the keypad 100 is replaced by other inputdevices such as a touchpad overlaying the display 98. The processor 90is also coupled, in this embodiment, to scanner 94, shown in FIG. 8 asan exemplary barcode scanner 94. In certain embodiments, the barcodescanner 94 is replaced by a radio frequency identification (RFID)scanner. In certain embodiments, the barcode scanner 94 is replaced by adevice capable of scanning and interpreting machine-readable elementscontaining information and providing such information to the processor90. The configuration of FIG. 7 is exemplary and not limiting, as avariety of standard and custom handheld controllers may be employed toprovide the capabilities described in this disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the portablecontainer 10 of FIG. 1 according to certain aspects of this disclosure.In this embodiment, the portable container comprises a processor 35coupled to a memory 38 and a latch 33 that releasably secures the lid 14to the body 12. The embodiment of FIG. 9 also includes a RTLS element36, a connector 32, and a communication device 39 as well as a powersource 37, thereby combining the features of the embodiments of FIGS. 3and 5.

The following discussion provides non-limiting examples of how portablecontainer 10 may be used in a hospital. Other methods of utilizingportable container 10, and combinations of the features of theembodiments of the portable container 10 described in FIGS. 3 and 5,will be obvious to those of skill in the art.

In a first example, an exemplary use of a RTLS-enabled portablecontainer 10, such as shown in FIGS. 1-4 is disclosed. A nurse entersher identification information into the ADM 20 of FIG. 2, located in acare unit as shown in FIG. 7, and then enters the identification of apatient. The ADM 20 is configured to display the prescribed medicationsfor this patient, and the nurse reviews the displayed prescriptions todetermine what medications are to be administered to the patient. Inthis example, the nurse identifies to the ADM 20 a medication that shewishes to remove from the ADM 20, and the ADM 20 opens the appropriatedrawer 22 and releases the portable container 10 that contains theidentified medication. The nurse removes the portable container 10,closes the drawer 22, and logs out of the ADM 20.

As the nurse moves about the care unit 82 with the portable container10, the RTLS element 36 tracks the location of the portable container10. In this example, the hospital wireless system includes a RTLS server71, such as server 71 of FIG. 6, that receives periodic messages fromthe RTLS element 36 and tracks the portable container 10 bytriangulation of each message through the access points 74 that are partof the hospital network system. In other embodiments, a standalone RTLSsystem may be used. In certain embodiments, a RTLS system may utilizeany of the real time locating methods of determining the location of theRTLS element 36 as known to those of skill in the art. The RTLS server71 includes a layout of the hospital, such as shown in FIG. 7, and isconfigured to determine where the portable container 10 is located withrespect to this layout 80. The layout 80 includes one or more definedareas. In this example, the area 82 is defined to be the care unit inwhich the ADM 20 and the patient are located and areas 84A, 84B, and 84Care defined to include the rest of the hospital. Furthermore, the RTLSserver 71 includes a database that defines what areas are approved foreach portable container 10. In this example, the portable container 10is approved for area 82 and not approved for areas 84A, 84B, or 84C. Aslong as the portable container 10 remains within area 82, the RTLSserver 71 takes no action. If the RTLS server 71 determines that theportable container 10 is located in any of areas 84A, 84B, and 84C, theRTLS server 71 issues an alert. In certain embodiments, the alert isprovided via a pager to the nurse or other nursing staff. In certainembodiments, the alert is provided to other staff such as a receptionistor security staff.

When the nurse arrives at the bedside of the patient, for example inroom 90D, for whom the medication contained in the portable container 10is prescribed, the nurse places the portable container 10 in a dockingstation 42 of a dispensing station 40 (not visible in FIG. 7) that islocated in the patient's room 90D. The nurse uses the user interface 46(not visible in FIG. 7) to request access to the contents of theportable container 10. The processor 35 communicates with the RTLSelement 36 which returns a signal that the portable container 10 islocated in an approved area, and the processor 35 causes the latch 33 torelease the lid 14, providing access to the medication. In certainembodiments, the processor 35 communicates with the server 71 todetermine whether the portable container 10 is located in an approvedarea.

In a second example, an exemplary use of a battery-powered portablecontainer 10 is disclosed. A nurse interacts with the ADM 20 in the samemanner as described in the previous example and removes a portablecontainer 10 having a power source 37 and a communication device 39.When the nurse arrives at the bedside of the patient in room 90D, thenurse logs in to her handheld controller 76 and activates a program foraccessing the portable container 10. The controller 76, in this example,requests that the nurse identify herself and she scans a barcode on heridentification badge using a built-in scanner of the controller 76. Thecontroller 72 then requests that the patient be identified, and thenurse scans a barcode printed on a wristband worn by the patient,wherein the barcode comprises the patient's identification code. Thecontroller 76 sends this information to a pharmacy server, such asserver 70 of FIG. 6, that comprises databases that compriseprescriptions for patients in the hospital and the contents of portablecontainers 10 in the hospital. The pharmacy server 70 verifies that themedication contained in the portable container 10 in which the processor35 is located is prescribed for the identified patient and provides anaccess approval signal to the controller 76. Upon receipt of the accesssignal from the server 70, the controller 76 sends an access signalthrough the communication device 39 to the processor 35 of the portablecontainer 10. The processor 35 then causes the latch 33 to release thelid 14 drawing power from the power source 37, thereby providing accessto the contents of the portable container 10. Hence, with the embodimentof FIGS. 5 and 6, a docking station 40 is not required to open aportable container 10.

In certain embodiments, the communication device 39 of FIG. 5 isconnected to an external connector and the controller 76 has a matchingconnector (not shown in FIG. 6) such that the portable container 10 isplugged into the controller 76 to exchange signals instead ofcommunicating wirelessly.

In certain embodiments, the portable container 10 has been assigned to apatient and the identification of the assigned patient is stored in thememory 38. The controller 76 retrieves the stored patient identificationusing processor 35 and compares it to the scanned patient identificationto determine whether the portable container 10 is assigned to thescanned patient. If so, the controller 76 sends the access signalthrough the communication device 39 to the processor 35 of the portablecontainer 10.

Portable containers 10 may have any or all of the features and elementsshown in the block diagrams of FIGS. 3 and 5. A portable container 10having a wireless communication capability, for example throughcommunication device 39 configured to communicate with a wirelessEthernet system, a RTLS capability, for example through a RTLS element36, and a power source 37, such as a battery, can provide a variety ofcapabilities for secure portable storage while allowing access to thestored items, for example medications. The RTLS capability can preventtheft or loss by triggering an alert if the portable container 10 istaken outside of an approved area, for example off a specific floor ofthe hospital, as well as allowing a lost portable container 10 to befound through the RTLS server 71. The communication capability, whichmay be provided in any of a variety of wired or wireless forms, allowsany portable device, such as a cell phone or portable digital assistant(PDA), having a matching communication capability to control theportable container 10 in the same manner as accomplished by the ADM 20.

The disclosed systems and methods provide a portable container thatincludes a secure storage compartment. The portable container can becarried by the caregiver and accessed at the bedside or other locationthat is away from the central ADM. In certain embodiments, the portablecontainer is battery powered and the caregiver can use a handheldcontroller, such as a cell phone, to provide the access signals to causethe latch to release the lid thereby providing access to the contents ofthe secure storage compartment of the portable container. In certainembodiments, the portable container comprises a RTLS device thatperiodically provides the location of the portable container to anexternal system.

It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps or blocksin the processes disclosed is an illustration of exemplary approaches.Based upon design preferences, it is understood that the specific orderor hierarchy of steps or blocks in the processes may be rearranged. Theaccompanying method claims present elements of the various steps in asample order, and are not meant to be limited to the specific order orhierarchy presented.

The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in theart to practice the various aspects described herein. Variousmodifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilledin the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied toother aspects. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to theaspects shown herein, but is to be accorded the full scope consistentwith the language claims.

Reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one andonly one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more.”Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term “some” refers to one ormore.

The term “optical” as used herein refers to electromagnetic radiationfrom ultraviolet to infrared, including wavelengths in the range of 10nanometers to 1 millimeter and includes, but is not limited to, lightvisible to the human eye, which covers the range of 380-760 nanometers.

The phrase “Radio Frequency Identification” and the acronym “RFID”include systems wherein a scanner having an antenna communicates wirelessly with multiple devices, or tags, that are equipped with antennas forthe purpose of retrieving one or more items of information related tothe tag or an item to which the tag is attached. This communication mayoccur at any frequency with the band of 3 kHz to 300 GHz. The tag may bepassive, i.e. drawing power from the electromagnetic field created thescanner antenna, or active, having a power source which may be internal,such as a battery, or external, such as a power coupling to a seconddevice.

Pronouns in the masculine (e.g., his) include the feminine and neutergender (e.g., her and its) and vice versa. All structural and functionalequivalents to the elements of the various aspects described throughoutthis disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those ofordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by referenceand are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothingdisclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless ofwhether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claimelement is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixthparagraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase“means for” or, in the case of a method claim, the element is recitedusing the phrase “operation for.”

Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been described andillustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same isby way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way oflimitation, the scope of the present invention being limited only by theterms of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A medication delivery system comprising: at leastone portable container comprising: a body with a lid forming a securablestorage compartment; a latch coupled to the body, the latch configuredto releasably secure the lid; a first processor coupled to the latch; afirst memory coupled to the first processor, the first memory comprisinga unique identifier; and a power source coupled to the latch and thefirst processor; wherein the first processor is configured to: retrievethe unique identifier from a first memory; provide a data signalcomprising the unique identifier; receive an access signal; and causethe latch to release the lid upon receipt of the access signal; and acontroller comprising a second processor communicatively coupled to ascanner and to the first processor of the at least one portablecontainer, the second processor configured to: receive the data signalfrom the first processor of the at least one portable container; andprovide the access signal to the first processor upon a determinationthat the portable container is allowed to be opened.
 2. The medicationdelivery system of claim 1, wherein the second processor is furtherconfigured to provide an information signal comprising a patientidentifier and the portable container identifier, and the medicationdelivery system further comprises a server configured to: storeinformation related to prescriptions for at least one patient; storeinformation related to a content of the at least one portable container;and receive the information signal from the second processor.
 3. Themedication delivery system of claim 2, wherein: the at least oneportable container contains a medication; the prescription informationstored on the server comprises a listing of medications to beadministered to the at least one patient; the content information storedon the server comprises a list of at least one medication stored in theat least one portable container; the server is further configured toprovide the prescription information for the identified patient and thecontainer content information for the identified portable container uponreceipt of the information signal; and the second processor is furtherconfigured to: receive the prescription information and the containercontent information from the server; and determine whether the at leastone portable container is allowed to be opened.
 4. The medicationdelivery system of claim 2, wherein: the at least one portable containercontains a medication; the prescription information stored on the servercomprises a listing of medications to be administered to the at leastone patient; the content information stored on the server comprises alist of at least one medication stored in the at least one portablecontainer; and the server is further configured to: retrieveprescription information for the identified patient; retrieve thecontent information for the identified portable container; compare themedications listed in the retrieved prescription information to the listof medications in the retrieved content information; and provide apermission signal to the second processor if at least one of themedications listed in the content information matches at least one ofthe medications listed in the prescription information; and the secondprocessor is further configured to: receive the permission signal fromthe server; and provide the access signal upon receipt of the permissionsignal.
 5. The medication delivery system of claim 1, wherein: thecontroller further comprises a scanner configured to: retrieve a patientidentity from a machine-readable element associated with a patient, andprovide the patient identity to the second processor; and the secondprocessor is further configured to receive the patient identity from thescanner.
 6. The medication delivery system of claim 1, wherein theportable container further comprises a location-sensing elementconfigured to determine a location of the portable container.
 7. Themedication delivery system of claim 6, wherein the first processor iscoupled to the location-sensing element and the first processor isconfigured to allow the latch to release the lid upon a determinationthat the portable container is located in an area where access tocontents of the portable container is permitted.
 8. The medicationdelivery system of claim 1, wherein the portable container furthercomprises a connector coupled to the body and the latch, wherein thebody is configured to mate with a docking station having a dockingconnector, and wherein the connector of the portable container isconfigured to mate with the docking connector, receive power from thedocking connector, and provide the power to the first processor and thelatch.
 9. The medication delivery system of claim 8, wherein the lid isconfigured to be released only when the portable container is docked tothe docking station.
 10. The medication delivery system of claim 1,wherein the controller is an external controller and the first processoris configured to provide the location received from the location-sensingelement to the external controller.
 11. The medication delivery systemof claim 10, wherein the first processor is further configured to:accept an access request from a user; and provide the locationinformation to the external controller upon receipt of the accessrequest.
 12. The medication delivery system of claim 1, wherein theportable container further comprises a battery coupled to the firstprocessor and the latch.
 13. A method of storing and dispensingmedications, the method comprising the steps of: placing at least onemedication in a portable container that comprises a power source and alatch configured to releasably secure a lid that cooperates with a bodyto form a secure storage compartment; determining automatically whetherit is permissible to dispense the at least one medication; and releasingthe lid of the portable container automatically when it is determinedthat it is permissible to dispense the at least one medication.
 14. Themethod of claim 13, wherein the step of determining automaticallywhether it is permissible to dispense the at least one medicationcomprises the steps of: determining with a scanner the identify of apatient; retrieving from a coupled memory a list of medications that areprescribed for the identified patient; retrieving from a memory of theportable container a unique identifier; retrieving from a coupled memorya list of the at least one medication stored in the identified portablecontainer; and determining that it is permissible to dispense the atleast one medication if at least one of the at least one medicationstored in the identified portable container is prescribed for theidentified patient.
 15. The method of claim 13, further comprising thestep of: transporting the secured portable container to a locationproximate to a patient, wherein the location proximate to the patient iswithin an area where it is allowable to dispense the at least onemedication.
 16. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:determining the location of the portable container; and issuing an alertif the portable container is determined to be in an area into which theportable container is not allowed to be taken.
 17. A non-transitorycomputer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions storedthereon for execution by a processor to perform a method of storing anddispensing medications, the method comprising the steps of: determiningautomatically whether it is permissible to dispense at least onemedication that is contained in a secure storage compartment of aportable container that comprises a power source and a latch configuredto releasably secure a lid that cooperates with a body to form thesecure storage compartment; and releasing the lid of the portablecontainer automatically when it is determined that it is permissible todispense the at least one medication.
 18. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the step of determiningautomatically whether it is permissible to dispense the at least onemedication comprises the steps of: determining with a scanner theidentify of a patient; retrieving from a coupled memory a list ofmedications that are prescribed for the identified patient; retrievingfrom a memory of the portable container a unique identifier; retrievingfrom a coupled memory a list of the at least one medication stored inthe identified portable container; and determining that it ispermissible to dispense the at least one medication if at least one ofthe at least one medication stored in the identified portable containeris prescribed for the identified patient.
 19. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising the step oftransporting the secured portable container to a location proximate to apatient, wherein the location proximate to the patient is within an areawhere it is allowable to dispense the at least one medication.
 20. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprisingthe steps of: determining the location of the portable container; andissuing an alert if the portable container is determined to be in anarea into which the portable container is not allowed to be taken.